Community Art Project Aims to Reform Juvenile Justice System in Arkansas

The Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC) partnered with My-T-By-Design Therapeutic Art Studio to host a community art project aimed at addressing issues within the juvenile criminal justice system. AJRC highlighted that fines and fees for parents involved in juvenile court cases can reach exorbitant amounts, creating significant hardships for low-income families, as noted by Arkansas Advocates for Children. The collaboration sought to provide a safe space for families impacted by these fees to express their experiences through art and empower them to share their stories with policymakers. AJRC has introduced legislation to eliminate these fines and fees statewide and is committed to ongoing advocacy, acknowledging that it's a long-term fight with no immediate results.